Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company Summer Dance Camp Returns July 27th Featuring World-Class Instructors

The Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company will be bringing internationally renowned dancers to Lincoln as instructors for their annual Summer Dance Camp. Christina Patchell and Michelle Alana bring their expertise to Nebraska for a 10-day camp for all dancers 18 and under. This is a great opportunity for area dance students to receive an unrivaled level of instruction, without having to travel out of state.

Christina Patchell attended the Joffrey Ballet School and is an instructor at The Rock School for Dance Education, where she has been on faculty for six years. Her choreography was recently featured in the opening for the Kimmel Center as well as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Christina began her professional career at the age of 16, and has performed with artists such as Will Smith, Mariah Carey, and Boys II Men. Christina also serves as a Ballet Mistress and Rehearsal Coach for The West Chester Ballet Theater.

Michelle Alana is a dancer and choreographer who has been dancing for 16 years and has been a part of the professional dance industry for the past 7 years.  She was a captain of the Phoenix Coyotes dance team, “The Pack”, the first NHL dance team to dance directly on the ice.  Michelle is the artistic director of the hottest dance competitions in the country, Celebrity Competitions, whose instructors have included Jessica Starr of MTV’s "Moves" and Nick Gonzalez of "So You Think You Can Dance?"

The 20th Annual Summer Dance Camp will be held July 27 - August 5, 2009 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dancers will learn a varied curriculum that includes ballet, Pointe, variations, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and tap. Applications are available by calling (402) 477-8446.

Prior dance experience is recommended, but not required.  Classes are formed by age with no auditions or placement classes. The 10-day camp concludes with a culminating performance on Wednesday, August 5th, 2009.  Cost is $325.00 for Jump Start dancers, ages 8 and under, part-time; $585.00 for dancers ages 9 and up, full-time.  Scholarships are available through area dance studios. Interested dancers, studying privately, should consult their teachers to learn more or call the LMBC business office.

2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the Summer Dance Camp.  “High quality instruction, individualized attention, and connections to the professional and college dance worlds are the strengths of our Summer Dance Camp,” says Shari True, Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company artistic director.